Nara, Japan in the 1500 was in a state of turmoil. It was a time of instability and upheaval as rival clans battled for power. Ashikaga Shogunate tried to centralize warrior rule. When Ashikaga Yoshimasa came to power despite his efforts, his indecisiveness caused conflict and disputes within his own family and with feudal lords. Yoshimasa directed his efforts to create cultural peace. He facilitated a revival in Japanese culture known as Higashiyama Culture. There was a rebirth of Japanese culture in the areas of tea ceremony, ikebana, Noh and architecture. Construction of temples and gardens took place whilst the rest of Japan was in chaos.

Japan encountered people from China, Korea and Mongolia. The exchange of goods and ideas helped establish trading routes. Nara developed a merchant area known as Naramachi. Merchants built and lived in long narrow houses that were connected. The front of the house was usually a shop and the rear, and second floor formed living quarters. The narrow streets and narrow shopfronts were designed to reduce tax. Naramachi streets were crowded but bustled with noise, smells, sounds of business. A young boy called Kashiguchi Kai lived and worked in this area.

Kai was a young teenager who went to live with his aunt and uncle when his parents fell on hard times in the countryside. His uncle and aunt lived in a machiya and ran a successful tea business. The tea shop had been passed down through the generations. As Kai’s uncle and aunt had no children, it was thought that Kai was a good option for taking over the family business.

Kai spent time with his uncle learning all about tea. His uncle would place a blindfold over Kai’s eyes and then ask Kai to guess the name of the tea and the elements of the tea. Uncle had heard that the emperor would do such a thing as a game with guests. He thought it was good for Kai to be able to do the same and identify the tea correctly. Uncle had many teas for the customers to buy. The most expensive tea was kept at the back of the shop and only brought out on request.

Kai’s aunt taught Kai how to make tea. He also learned about how to enjoy tea. This was usually reserved for high-ranking samurais, but because Kai was a tea merchant, he was allowed to participate. Females were absent from the ceremony, but Yoshimasa decided it was something that needed to be taken on by women and it started to form their etiquette training. The art of drinking tea started to evolve.

Living in Naramachi, the streets were full of artisans. It seemed only natural that Kai would gain an interest in Japanese tea ceremony cups – chawan. Once he had finished his work for his aunt and uncle, Kai would go to a nearby artisan and started to learn how to make chawan. At first, he found it difficult. It took time to realize that if the cup was made with a wide-bottomed base that the tea maker could whisk the matcha with a whisk quite easily. Kai started to make his own style of chawan and the owner of the store was happy to sell Kai’s work. Kai’s chawan soon became the talk of the neighbourhood.

Yoshimasa was always keen to celebrate culture and traditions. He decided that in August, the people of Nara would celebrate the Tokae Lantern Festival. People in Naramachi became excited and thought about all the business they would gain. Artisans made candles and lanterns. Yoshimasa wanted to light up the town. Yoshimasa asked for artisans to visit him in the palace with an assortment of their goods. He would then place orders according to his likes and dislikes.